Prerna Lal

Adventures of a Queer Indo-Fijian

It seems like the undeserving Nobel Peace Prize has gone to Barack Obama’s head or maybe it is his lack of knowledge of international affairs. He has been caught congratulating Fiji for the ‘rule of law’ and ‘democratic ideals’ it shares with the United States.

The United States President Barrack Obama says America stands with the people of Fiji in their pursuit of a brighter future.

Fijilive reports President Obama sent a Fiji Day message, on behalf of the American people, congratulating the people of Fiji on the 39th anniversary of Fiji’s Independence on October 10.

He says Fiji and the US enjoy a friendship founded on the mutual commitment to peace, freedom, the rule of law, and democratic ideals.

President Obama says it is through a shared commitment to these ideals that the friendship between the two countries has developed so strongly over the years.”

The note, sent via the US Embassy in Suva, is addressed to “the people of Fiji” and signed “sincerely, Barack Obama”.

Mr Obama, last we checked, Fiji was a military dictatorship ran by an illegitimate government that has abrogated the Constitution and now serves as judge, jury and executioner. How about you address this in your next note to the illegal dictator, Commodore Bainamarama, and give us some of the change we can believe in?

Any national leader who abolishes his country’s constitution and overturns its judiciary because their strictures and findings do not agree with his idea of democracy, is not worthy to hold responsible office. Bainimarama has hung on to power for far too long by drastically changing the rules and ensuring that articles critical to the government remain unreported. Fiji is not a democracy. It is a dictatorship.